Elyse giggled. “Do not play coy with me,” she said, a knowing twinkle in her eye. “Merradoc told me what you and Johndid. He said the entire chamber smelled like rough and sweaty mating. Tell me– was his manhood big and full? Did he use it wisely?”
Emllyn almost fell out of her chair. She could hardly believe the twist the conversation had taken, shocked to the point of giggling uncontrollably. Elyse giggled right along with her. Emllyn covered her mouth, giggling so hard that she could barely breathe.
“But… but your father,” she gasped. “He is a very proper and moralistic man. How do you… what if he…?”
“I am very careful,” Elyse said. “But the truth is that my father does not come near my chamber. His chamber is on the second floor and he leaves me well enough alone.”
Emllyn was still struggling with the thought of a reckless and sexually active Elyse; she’d never heard anything more astonishing because the woman, for all appearances, seemed like a properly prudish lady. After having sat with the woman for hours each day for the past two weeks discussing all manner of subjects, this was the first Elyse had mentioned her carnal pleasures. The realization was therefore a shock.
“God’s Blood,” Emllyn finally hissed. “You are full of surprises, my lady.”
Elyse nodded as she continued to titter in a maidenly manner. “Let us speak of John again,” she said. “Was he wonderful? He is such a big and strong man, I imagine it would rather be like mating with a bull.”
Emllyn’s giggles diminished as she considered Elyse’s question. She certainly didn’t want to discuss it but she had a feeling Elyse wouldn’t understand that. The seemingly pure and pristine English lady evidently had a nasty streak. So she tried to form an answer that would satisfy her.
“Merradoc has a wild imagination,” she said. “John is a complete and utter gentleman and we enjoy a fine friendship.”
Elyse looked confused. “Then… then he did not bed you?”
“I have already told you my heart lies with another,” she said. “To take another man to my bed would be wrong at best. How much plainer can I be?”
Even though Emllyn’s fine English knight was dead at Black Sword’s hand, in Elyse’s mind, there was no reason why the woman couldn’t immediately focus her attention on another man, especially one as big and handsome as John. Elyse cocked her head curiously.
“Then mayhap I can find out what John is like, then,” she said. “My father said he should be returning soon. Mayhap I can coerce him into my bed. I will let you know what you have missed.”
Emllyn clamped her lips together, wanting very much to tell the woman that Devlin was her property and to leave him alone, but she had a feeling that Elyse already suspected that and was simply trying to get a reaction from her. So she shrugged her shoulders.
“I wish you luck,” she said, returning to her sewing. “It may be quite a task. Mayhap he doesn’t even like women.”
Elyse grinned slyly. “I will find out.”
Emllyn didn’t like that reply at all. She stabbed at her sewing with increasing frustration, irritated at Elyse and her wanton ways. But any word out of her mouth would find its way into the rumor mill; she knew that now. Between Elyse and Merradoc, all of Glenteige seemed to be full of gossips. She’d certainly come to discover that, too, in the past two weeks. As she sat and fumed in silence, Elyse began to speak of a stable boy she once shared her bed with. It was rather ribald talk that was fortunately interrupted by a knock on the solar door.
Elyse rose to answer the door, permitting a few serving women entrance. Their arms were laden with trays and pitchers.
“It must be time for the nooning meal,” Elyse commented as the servants moved to put the items on a pretty carved table. “I had completely lost track of time.”
Emllyn was grateful for the distraction. “It is easy to lose track of time when you are focused on your task,” she said, gesturing towards Elyse’s drawing table. “What marvelous thing are you working on? May I see it?”
Elyse grinned and went over to her drawing table as the servants spread out a beautiful meal on the other table. Picking up the rather large piece of yellowed parchment, she blew any remaining grains of loose charcoal off of it as she brought it over and presented it to Emllyn.
“There,” she said. “What do you think?”
Emllyn found herself looking at a perfect likeness of herself, skillfully sketched in charcoal. Elyse had drawn her looking over her right shoulder with her hair flowing and curled, and flowers woven into it. It was astonishing and life-like, and so very beautiful. Emllyn’s jaw dropped.
“Oh… my,” she breathed. “Elyse, you drew an image ofme. I have never seen anything so remarkable. It’s magnificent!”
Elyse beamed. “I am not done with it but it is a good start, don’t you think?” she inspected her drawing carefully. “You are an excellent subject because your features are so fine. Do you like it?”
“I love it,” Emllyn exclaimed. “I have never seen myself like that before, ever. May… may I have it when you are finished?”
Elyse nodded. “Of course,” she said as she headed back over to her drawing table and deposited the parchment. “I made it for you.”
“You are incredibly generous,” Emllyn said sincerely. “I am very touched.”
Elyse continued to grin, pleased by her friend’s reaction, when another maid servant entered the room and headeddirectly for her. The girl in rough linen clothing and a torn apron curtsied quickly as she extended what looked like a piece of parchment to Elyse.
“M’lady,” the servant said. “I have a message for the Lady Emllyn.”
